Orto e Museo Botanico di Pisa

About the museum

The Orto Botanico di Pisa was founded in 1543 by Luca Ghini and is considered the first university botanic garden in the world. It has been on its present site, in the heart of the city, since 1591; today it covers about two hectares, with two entrances, at Via Luca Ghini 13 and Via Roma 56.

The Museo Botanico is the heir of the ancient Galleria, established in 1591 by the Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici. The collections include a picture gallery of 17th-century portraits of distinguished botanists, a monumental entrance door and a small study devoted to seeds (studiolo dei semi), as well as botanical models in wax and plaster, watercoloured 19th-century teaching charts, in vitro samples, a xylotheque, scientific instruments and palaeobotanical collections.

The Orto and the Museo are part of the Sistema Museale d'Ateneo of the University of Pisa. In addition to free visits, they offer guided tours by reservation, educational routes for schools, workshops and activities for families and children.

Highlights

• The first university botanic garden in the world (1543)
• Picture gallery of 17th-century portraits of distinguished botanists
• Botanical models in wax and plaster
• Studiolo dei semi (seed room) and xylotheque
• Two hectares of garden in the centre of Pisa

Permanent exhibitions

• Orto botanico – Historic garden of about two hectares with plant collections, founded in the 16th century as a university garden.
• Museo botanico – Portraits of botanists, wax and plaster models, teaching charts, xylotheque, instruments and palaeobotanical collections.

Founded

1543

Operated by

Università di Pisa – Sistema Museale d'Ateneo

Admission & discounts

Prices of the combined Orto and Museo ticket; separate tickets for the Orto and for the Museo at lower prices are also available. Reductions cannot be combined. Free admission also for licensed tour guides and environmental guides, teachers with an Edumuseicard, journalists, ICOM members and employees of the University of Pisa. From September 2026 the site can be visited with the Pisa Card.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The entrance at Via Roma 56 is recommended for wheelchair users or people with mobility difficulties. The main avenues are gravel; an electric scooter is available at the Via Roma gatehouse (to be checked in advance at +39 050 221 1318). The museum rooms and the teaching rooms of Palazzo Arcangeli can be reached through dedicated entrances and lifts; access must be announced in advance. A video guide in Italian Sign Language (LIS) with subtitles and a social story in PDF for autistic children and young people are available.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Playful-scientific workshops, summer camps and educational routes for schools; videos with routes and interactive games for children are available on the website. For the age and costs of activities you can write to educazione.ortomuseobot@sma.unipi.it.

Getting there & parking

Two entrances: Via Luca Ghini 13 and Via Roma 56. The Via Roma entrance is recommended for visitors with mobility difficulties.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

There is a bookshop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit